©The Rothwell Group, L. P. 2016. All rights reserved.
PaleoGIS™ for ArcGIS™
The Rothwell Group, L. P.
PaleoGIS User Manual
Version 4.3
Table of Contents
Supported Data Types for Use in PaleoGIS
Preparing for Reconstructions and/or Animations
Add User Data to be Reconstructed
PaleoGIS: Basic Functions Toolbar
Advanced Configuration Options
PaleoGIS: Plate Model Tools Toolbar
Saving Symbology to the Plate Model Geodatabase
Viewing or Deleting Existing Plate Model Symbology
PaleoGIS Data Frame Context Menu
Refresh Cache for Single Layer
Using PaleoGIS with a Proxy Server
Setting Layer Properties in ArcMap
Setting Display Units for a Layer
Selecting more than one Feature in a Layer
Selecting Only One Feature in a Layer with Stacked Polygons
PaleoGIS is a comprehensive collection of desktop tools allowing the user to create, display, and manipulate plate tectonic reconstructions through the ESRI ArcMap user interface. This application allows users to incorporate their own data into the reconstructions so the data can be evaluated in its paleogeographic context.
This documentation specifically applies to PaleoGIS 4.3.x running on ArcMap 10.3.x, 10.4.x, 10.5.x or 10.6.1. If you are using previous versions of PaleoGIS or ArcMap, some of the content and screenshots may not be accurate for the version you are using.
Note: The PaleoGIS: Basic Functions toolbar must be displayed for PaleoGIS to be fully enabled. The visibility of the other two toolbars can be set according to the user’s needs.
PaleoGIS supports the reconstruction of point, multi-point, polyline and polygon vector data in shapefile, personal geodatabase, file geodatabase and SDE formats. Vector data can use any projection or coordinate system.
PaleoGIS can also reconstruct rasters (single- and multi-band) in grid, .jpg, .gif, .img, .png, .jp2, .tif, .bmp, personal geodatabase, and file geodatabase formats.
We begin by looking at the most common workflow for using PaleoGIS. PaleoGIS is a robust software package that can be used to do many plate tectonic modeling tasks, but for many users the goal is to simply reconstruct user data layers back to a particular geologic time using an existing published plate model. The workflow for doing this common task is described below. If you are unfamiliar with any ArcMap terms used in this section, please refer to Appendix A: ArcMap Skills.
First, turn on the PaleoGIS extension and display the PaleoGIS: Basic Functions toolbar as described above in the Introduction to PaleoGIS section. Then open the Configuration window (see figure below) by clicking on the Configuration button on the PaleoGIS: Basic Functions toolbar.
Select the desired plate model from the Select Model dropdown menu and click the Load Selected Plate Model button. The selected model will be loaded into memory and a new data frame containing the model’s plate polygons, and possibly some supporting data, will be added to the top of the ArcMap table of contents. All other data frames that existed before loading the model will remain in the map - they will just be moved below the new data frame. No data frames or data will be removed from the map.
The newly added top data frame will have the name of the plate model that you just loaded. This data frame is the PaleoGIS “present day” data frame because it now contains the present day version of the plate model polygons for the model that you just loaded. Do not insert any other data frames above this one because PaleoGIS always performs reconstructions and animations based on the top (present day) data frame.
One of the key features of PaleoGIS is that it can reconstruct user data back to its paleogeographic location. To reconstruct your data, simply add the desired data layers to the present day (top) data frame, and make sure that the visibility is turned on for those layers. Refer to the Supported Data Types for Use in PaleoGIS section for more information about the types of data that are acceptable for use in PaleoGIS.
It is important to validate any data layers (vector or raster) before performing reconstructions on them. This is important because this process will tell you if the layers are not in a PaleoGIS supported format or contain any malformed geometries. Layers that are improperly formatted or contain malformed geometries cannot be reconstructed. You can validate a single layer or all the layers in the present day data frame by using the PaleoGIS context menu options as shown below.
A window will be displayed showing the results of the validation. This window also provides important tips for working with data layers in PaleoGIS:
If the validation windows says that a layer is not in a PaleoGIS supported format, you can create a copy of the data in a supported format (shapefile or a feature class in a Personal or File Geodatabase) by right-clicking on the layer in the Table of Contents and then choosing the Data > Export Data option. You can then add the exported data to the map.
If the validation window says that there are malformed geometries, run the Repair Layer tool on the specified layer. This tool calls the ESRI Repair tool and should fix any problems with the data layer. Note that the Repair Layer tool will change your data when making the repairs, so you should first make a backup copy of the data before running the tool.
After ensuring that the data layers are valid, you are ready to reconstruct your data. In the PaleoGIS: Basic Functions toolbar you can either enter a numeric age in (Ma) manually or select a geologic age from the dropdown menu:
The numeric age range for each geologic age (based on the timescale being used - either default for the model or user selected) is shown in parenthesis next to each geologic age in the list. If you select a geologic age for the reconstruction, the reconstruction will be performed to the age in the middle of the age range.
To execute the reconstruction, click the Go button.
PaleoGIS will display a number of windows as it processes the user data layers and the plate model polygons. It will then display these reconstructed layers in a new data frame placed at the bottom of the table of contents. For more detailed information about reconstructing vector and raster layers, see the Reconstruction Tool section.
Note: All usage instructions in the sections below for the tools on this toolbar assume that the desired plate model has already been loaded in PaleoGIS as explained in the Basic Configuration Options section.
Reconstruction Tool: Used to perform reconstructions to the desired age.
Set Fixed Plate Tool: Sets the reference frame for reconstructions.
Clear Fixed Plate Tool: Resets the reference frame to the default value.
Point Path Visualization: Draws a path on the map showing the movement of a single point over a specified time range and also graphically displays the point’s speed and direction of movement. This tool is only activated in the present day (i.e., the top) data frame.
Instantaneous Motion: Draws a grid of arrows on a reconstructed map to show the speed and direction of motion for all plates at that time. This tool is only activated in reconstructed data frames.
Animation Tool: Allows the user to create animations of plate movement over time.
Quick Spin Tool: Changes the map projection to "The World From Space", and then re-centers the map to a specified point.
Configuration Button: Opens the Configuration window.
Help Button: Opens PaleoGIS Help. It will first attempt to access an online version of the user documentation. If that fails, it will access a local copy.
This is the most commonly used tool in PaleoGIS. It is used to perform plate model reconstructions to the geologic age of interest.
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When you press the Go button, PaleoGIS performs a number of operations as part of the reconstruction process. First, PaleoGIS compares the list of visible layers in the present day data frame to the list of layers in the data cache. Layers are added and/or deleted from the cache in order to synchronize the cache with the present day data frame.
Next, PaleoGIS performs an intersection routine on any new layers in the cache using the currently loaded plate model polygons. This process is often called “cookie cutting” because the plate model polygons are used like lots of little cookie cutters to slice up the features in the user data layers. The attributes from the plate model polygons (plate code, appearance age, and disappearance age) are transferred to the attribute table of the user data layer during this process. The user data layers are now “coded” with the information necessary for PaleoGIS to reconstruct their features back to a given geologic age.
At this point, the reconstruction is performed. If the currently loaded model supports deformation, and the Enable deformation option is selected in the Advanced Options tab in the Configuration window, deformation will be applied to any applicable areas in the vector layers when they are reconstructed.
It is important to understand that PaleoGIS is not directly reconstructing the data layers that are contained in the present day data frame. PaleoGIS is reconstructing the copy of these layers in the cache that has been intersected with the plate model polygons. The original data is not changed during the intersection or reconstruction process.
You can perform the “caching” process explicitly by right-clicking on the present day data frame and choosing the PaleoGIS > Refresh Cache option from the context menu. This may be helpful if you are receiving an error while performing a reconstruction and you want to determine if the problem is actually occurring while the layers are being copied to the cache or while being reconstructed.
Also, make sure to run the PaleoGIS > Refresh Cache option if you have edited a data layer and want these edits to be reflected in reconstructions or animations. Otherwise, if you make changes to a data layer that has already been copied to the cache, PaleoGIS will not know that the layer has been changed and it will reconstruct the layer as it was before the edits were made.
Raster reconstruction in PaleoGIS is performed by resampling the raster and converting it to a point feature class and then reconstructing the points to the selected age. Once the reconstruction is complete, the points are converted back to a raster, which is the reconstruction output. Before the input raster is initially converted to a point feature class, the user is allowed to select the resampled cell area as a percentage (from <1% to 100%) of the original cell area, where a higher percentage will give higher resolution results, while a lower percentage will improve reconstruction performance.
Currently, only one raster can be reconstructed at a time using this method, but a single raster can be reconstructed at the same time as any number of vector layers.
To reconstruct a raster, add the raster to the present day map and make sure its visibility is turned on. Next select or enter a reconstruction age in the PaleoGIS: Basic Functions toolbar and then click the Go button. This window will open:
The Post-process raster option uses an interpolation algorithm to eliminate null values in the reconstructed raster. This option produces more aesthetically pleasing results, but it also increases the reconstruction time.
The resampled raster resolution will be automatically set to a recommended level, but if a different resolution is desired, use the slider to increase or decrease the percentage. Alternatively, you can enter a numeric percent value in the text box to the right of the slider. The estimated reconstruction time and the resampled cell size will be displayed in the area below the slider. Note that there will not be a time estimate provided the first time a raster reconstruction is run after PaleoGIS is installed.
Once you have the resampled resolution selected, click the Continue button to start the reconstruction.
Once the reconstruction is complete, the Use resampled raster from cache option will be enabled for subsequent reconstructions of the raster that was just reconstructed. This option reduces reconstruction time because it reuses the present day point feature class that was created for the previous reconstruction.
The Set Fixed Plate tool is used to set the reconstruction reference frame to a selected plate. The result is that the selected reference plate will not move from its present day position (i.e., it will be “fixed” in place) while all other plates will move relative to the selected plate’s position.
Note: When a fixed plate is set, the paleo latitude and longitude values in reconstructions will not be valid since the reference frame is no longer tied to the graticule.
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Select the desired reference plate from the dropdown list and then click the OK button. The window will close and a message indicating the fixed plate ID number will appear in the lower left corner of the ArcMap window.
Note: At any time you can find out which plate is fixed (if any), by hovering the mouse cursor over the Set Fixed Plate tool button, which will display a tooltip showing the current reference plate.
Resets the reference frame to the default value.
Note: This tool now combines the functionality of the Point Path Visualization and Azimuth and Rate vs. Time tools from previous versions of PaleoGIS.
The Point Path Visualization tool operates on present day maps (not on reconstructed maps), so the tool button will only be activated when the present map is activated.
This tool calculates the speed and direction of movement for a single point over a specified time range at specified step intervals. The resulting data is then presented in two ways:
1) A line is added to the map showing the path of the point over the specified time period, with the width of the line indicating the speed of the point at different times. The starting point of the line is the present day location of the point and the end of the line is its position at the oldest analysis step.
2) Two graphs are generated - one of the speed of motion of the point during each step interval over the specified time period and one of the direction (azimuth) of motion during each step interval over the specified time period.
This tool is useful for evaluating the paleo latitude and longitude of a point over time. However, it is important to note that the paleo coordinates generated by this tool are only valid if the tool is run without a fixed plate. If there is a fixed plate set when the tool is run, the output will show the motion of the point relative to the fixed plate instead of relative to the “spin axis” reference frame.
This tool is also useful for plate modelers because the analysis can highlight rapid changes in plate direction and/or unreasonable speeds which may indicate errors in the plate model.
Alternatively, you can manually enter the coordinates for the desired point in the Latitude and Longitude fields, and a point will be added to that location on the map and the Plate ID field will be populated based on the entered coordinates.
In addition a window will open containing graphs of the point’s azimuth and rate over the specified time interval:
This tool operates on the last reconstructed map (not on the present day map or previously run reconstructions).
The Instantaneous Motion tool draws a regularly-spaced grid of arrows on a reconstructed map to show the speed and direction of motion for the location under each arrow at that time. This tool operates by generating a grid of points with user-defined spacing (default = 4 degrees) and assigning the points to the plates in their present day locations. The points are then reconstructed to the time of the reconstructed map, followed by a reconstruction to a slightly older time based upon a user-defined age delta (default = 100,000 years). The positions of the points from the two reconstructions are then compared and the results are used to create a map layer of arrows that indicate the direction and relative speed of movement of each point at that moment in time.
This analysis can be used to illustrate the "instantaneous" stresses affecting the plates. By comparing the motion between plates, the relative plate interactions can be inferred (colliding, diverging, translation, trans-tension, and/or transpression).
The Animation tool creates animations of plate movement over time by performing reconstructions at specified time intervals over a specified time range, and then exporting the reconstructions as a series of JPEG or GIF images.
The Quick Spin tool changes the map projection to "The World From Space", and then re-centers the map to a specified point.
Note: The “The World From Space” projection has become slower with every release of ArcMap since 9.0, so it may take a long time for the map to redraw in this projection.
To open the PaleoGIS Configuration window, click on the Configuration button . PaleoGIS is highly configurable and the options and settings on the various tabs in the Configuration window allow you to customize PaleoGIS operation to best suit the analysis being performed. Common configuration changes include:
The Basic Options tab provides the plate model and timescale options described below.
Loading a Plate Model
Adding (Registering) a Plate Model in PaleoGIS
Removing (Unregistering) a Plate Model from PaleoGIS
Timescale Options
Configuration Database Location
Gives the path to the database (PaleoGIS_settings.mdb) that contains the PaleoGIS application settings.
The Enable deformation option enables deformation of vector layers when reconstructed by models that support deformation. Selecting this option for non-deforming models will have no effect on reconstruction outputs.
The Enable time slice layers option enables Time Slice Viewer functionality in plate models that contain time slice layers. If a model contains time slices, the Time slice path will be the path to the directory where the time slice layers are located. However, it is possible for this path to be empty even if a model contains time slices since the time slices may be contained in the plate model geodatabase. More details on Time Slice Viewer operation is available in the Time Slice Viewer section of this document.
Ignore children – Removes the linkage between a parent plate and its children when making changes to the parent plate's poles of rotation using the Drag and Drop, Spin and Drop and Enter Pole tools on the Plate Model Tools toolbar.
Skip repairing features - Improves reconstruction performance by skipping the repair of any invalid features that might be created as a result of the intersection process between the plate model "cookie cutter" layer and user data layers.
Ignore assigned ages - Causes reconstructions and animations to ignore the “appearance” and “disappearance” fields in the plate model and user data layers. This means that regardless of the reconstruction age, all plate model polygons and all user data features that intersect a plate model polygon will be reconstructed and displayed during reconstructions and animations.
Add unique ID to cache – Adds a “PaleoUniqueId” field to the attribute tables of all layers when they are copied to the cache, which is automatically populated with a unique ID number for each feature in the cached layer. This field is then persisted to reconstructed and animated layers, where it can be used to trace the lineage of a reconstructed feature back to the present day.
All reconstructed maps, including animations, in PaleoGIS contain a label that provides information about the reconstruction such as the reconstruction age, plate model used, etc. The Label Options tab provides the ability to customize the location and content of this label.
Label Text
The Numeric age, Geologic age, “[Relative to]”, Plate model name and Timescale name checkboxes allow you to control what information appears in the map label. When these options are checked/unchecked the sample label below the checkboxes will show a preview of how the label will look using information from the currently loaded plate model.
Note: You can turn on/off most of the label text, however, “PaleoGIS” and the plate model citation cannot be turned off and will always appear in the label.
The Left align text option left justifies the text in the label. The sample label will show a preview of how the label will look with and without this option selected.
Label Position
To change the location of the label in the reconstructed maps, use the selection buttons in the map diagram to choose one of the eight available positions.
Scratch and Cache Paths
The Scratch Path is the location for the “scratch directory” which is the output location for all PaleoGIS results.
The Cache Path is the location of the PaleoGIS data cache.
For both of these settings, browse to the desired folder location in the navigation window that appears when the respective setting button (Change Scratch Path or Change Cache Path) is clicked. Note that PaleoGIS will automatically add the cache name “cache.gdb” to the end of the cache path once you have browsed to and selected a folder for the cache.
Licensing
Keep the ByPass Expect100Continue Header option checked unless your IT person instructs you to do otherwise.
The values for most options in the Basic Options, Advanced Options, Label Options and Misc. Options tabs are saved to the “T_PaleoGIS_Settings” table in the PaleoGIS configuration database (PaleoGIS_Settings.mdb) so that they will be persisted between PaleoGIS sessions. Other less commonly used configuration options are also saved in the “T_PaleoGIS_Settings” table. This table can be accessed directly via the Application Settings tab. After making changes to the table in the Application Settings tab, click the Save Updates button to save the changes to PaleoGIS_Settings.mdb. For a complete list and description of all the available PaleoGIS application settings, refer to the PaleoGIS Application Settings section of this manual.
The Model Settings tab provides access to the settings for the currently loaded plate model. Detailed information about these settings can be found in the PaleoGIS Plate Modeler Manual Version 4.3.
The Models tab provides a list of registered plate models and their source locations.
The Timescales tab provides a list of the alternate timescales available with PaleoGIS and their source locations.
Genealogist Tool: Used to view the sub-plates (i.e. child plates) for a specified plate within a reconstruction data frame.
Pole Finder Tool: Displays the absolute and relative poles of rotation used for a specified plate within a reconstruction data frame.
Spin and Drop Tool: Allows the user to rotate a selected plate into a new position.
Drag and Drop Tool: Allows the user to drag a selected plate to a new position.
Enter Pole Tool: Allows the user to enter a new total finite or stage pole for a plate.
Undo Move Tool: Allows the user to undo the last plate movement made using the Spin and Drop, Drag and Drop and Enter Pole tools.
Redo Move Tool: After using the Undo Move tool, the user can use this tool to redo the last move.
Pole Saver Tool: Allows the user to save poles of rotation for plates that have been moved.
Pole Set Maintenance Tool: Allows the user to save, move, delete, and edit plate rotation data within the currently loaded plate model.
Time Slice Manager Tool: Facilitates time slice incorporation into plate models by allowing the user to make changes directly to the time slice table (TIMESLICE_LAYERS) in the plate model geodatabase, save time slice symbology inside of the geodatabase and view previously saved symbology.
Plate Model Symbology Tool: Allows the user to save display layer symbology inside of the plate model geodatabase and to view or delete symbology that was previously saved in the geodatabase.
Important: The POLE_SOURCE_1 table as specified in the Model Settings is the master pole rotation table for the currently loaded model. It is best to not make changes to this table, but instead to add another POLE_SOURCE table (e.g., POLE_SOURCE_2) to the model to hold pole changes. This will keep your original rotation table in its original state in case you need to revert to those poles. Another “safety” option to consider before editing the model is to make a copy of the entire plate model file as a backup in case your changes don’t go as planned.
Note: A reconstruction must first be performed in order for most of the tools on the PaleoGIS: Plate Model Tools toolbar to be enabled.
The Genealogist tool is used to view the sub-plates (i.e. child plates) for a specified plate within a reconstruction data frame.
Tip: When using the Genealogist tool you can clear the graphics created by the tool by holding down the Ctrl and Shift keys and then clicking the map. You can also de-selected all features by holding down Ctrl and clicking the map.
Note: If you click on overlapping plates in the map resulting in multiple plates being selected, the window below will display. In this case, select the desired plate from the dropdown list.
The Pole Finder tool is used to display the absolute and relative poles of rotation used for a specified plate within a reconstruction data frame
Note: In step 3), if you click on overlapping plates in the map resulting in multiple plates being selected, the window below will display. In this case, select the desired plate from the dropdown list.
The Spin and Drop tool is used to rotate a selected plate into a new position.
After clicking on the third point, the selected plate and any of its children will automatically move to the new position:
Note: If you don’t wish for child plates of the selected plate to move during this operation, select the Ignore children option on the Advance Options tab in the Configuration window.
The Drag and Drop tool is used to linearly offset the position of a selected plate to a new position.
Note: If you don’t wish for child plates of the selected plate to move during this operation, select the Ignore children option on the Advance Options tab in the Configuration window.
The Enter Pole tool allows the user to manually add pole values to a specific plate in the currently loaded plate model. This is useful for implementing precise pole values that have been calculated or obtained from published sources.
The Enter Pole tool accepts total finite poles and stage poles. In order for an entered pole to be correctly interpreted by PaleoGIS, the map reference frame must set to the reference frame that was used to calculate the pole value. In addition, this reference frame needs to correspond to the parent plate of the selected plate. For example, for a total finite relative pole for 50 Ma for S.America moving relative to Africa (i.e. the pole reference frame), the model to be modified should have Africa as the parent plate for S.America during the applicable geologic age, and Africa should be selected as the reference frame for the reconstruction.
Note: The Map Reference Frame and the Parent Plate values must be the same for correct implementation of the entered pole. If these values are different, re-run the reconstruction with the map in the appropriate reference frame before continuing.
Note: If you don’t wish for child plates of the selected plate to move during this operation, select the Ignore children option on the Advanced Options tab in the Configuration window.
The Pole Saver tool is used to save new poles of rotations that have either been calculated by PaleoGIS for plates moved using the Spin and Drop and Drag and Drop tools or that have been manually entered using the Enter Pole tool.
Note: If you want the ability to make pole changes to multiple plates before saving, change the Application Setting EDIT_SKIP_PLATE_LIST value to FALSE (the default setting is TRUE). Then when the Pole Saver tool is clicked, the window below will open with a list off all the plates that have pole changes:
Click to highlight a plate to be edited or saved and click the Edit/Save Pole button. The Pole Saver Edit Window will open. Edit and/or save the pole as described starting in step 1 above. Repeat this process for the other plates in the Poles to Save window.
The Pole Set Maintenance tool allows the user to save, move, delete, and edit plate rotation data within the currently loaded plate model.
The Time Slice Manager tool facilitates time slice incorporation into plate models by allowing the user to make changes directly to the time slice table (TIMESLICE_LAYERS) in the plate model geodatabase, save time slice symbology inside of the geodatabase and view previously saved symbology.
Note: To save time slice symbology to the plate model geodatabase, the time slice feature class must be contained in the plate model geodatabase.
The Plate Model Symbology tool allows the user to save display layer symbology (i.e., .lyr file) inside of the plate model geodatabase and to view or delete symbology that was previously saved in the geodatabase. This tool improves upon the Database layers application that previously had to be downloaded and added to the ArcMap in order to save symbology in a geodatabase.
Note: To save display layer symbology to the plate model geodatabase, the display layer feature class must be contained in the plate model geodatabase.
The PaleoGIS Analysis Tools Toolbar provides access to the following tools:
Note: Custom proprietary analysis tools can be added to this toolbar for additional functionality. Please contact The Rothwell Group, L. P. for details.
This tool simplifies adding deformation to a plate model by allowing rapid deformation preview and updating in both present day and reconstructed contexts. More information and instructions for using this tool can be found in the PaleoGIS Plate Model Deformation Version 4.3 manual.
The Model Validator performs a number of checks to identify plate model issues such as crossover problems and plates that are missing poles of rotation. More information and instructions for using this tool can be found in PaleoGIS Plate Modeler Manual Version 4.3.
The Paleo Calculator provides four tools to perform calculations commonly used by plate modelers: pole addition, point rotation, pole position, and great circle distance. To use any of the tools, enter the required values in each white text field for the tool, and then click the Calculate button. The results will be displayed in the gray text box for the tool being used.
The Paleo Data Converter simplifies conversion between commonly used plate model data formats, making it easier to import models into PaleoGIS.
Save Reconstruction Tool: Allows the user save all the data layers shown in a reconstruction to a new directory for permanent storage. Until this is done, the layers are stored in the scratch directory and risk being deleted. The data is saved in a geodatabase along with layer files that will render the data with the symbology was assigned to it in the reconstruction.
Export to ArcGlobe Tool: Exports an entire data frame to ArcGlobe, assuming that ArcGlobe is installed. Once the data is exported, ArcGlobe will open and show the data and will allow manipulation.
Refresh Cache Tool: Refreshes the cached data for all the layers in the present day map (the top data frame). This operation copies all the data layers to the cache and then intersects (“cookie cuts”) the copied data with the plate model polygon layer. When edits are made to data in the present day map, the edits will not be automatically updated in the cached data; therefore, it is important to refresh that data in the cache to make sure the cache is up-to-date.
Empty Scratch Directory Tool: Clears all temporary data out of the scratch directory so that the directory does not grow too large. It is important to first run the “Save Reconstruction Tool” to save any reconstructions that need to be preserved. Note: this is a “blanket” delete – EVERYTHING in the scratch directory will be deleted, even non-PaleoGIS-related files.
Validate All Layers Tool: Validates all the layers in a data frame to make sure they are compatible with PaleoGIS by checking that the data is in a PaleoGIS supported format and that they do not contain malformed geometries.
Detailed information for using each tool is given below.
This function allows a user to save all the data layers shown in a reconstruction to a new directory for permanent storage. Until this is done the layers will be stored in the scratch directory and risk being deleted if the scratch directory is emptied. After clicking Save Reconstruction the data is saved in a geodatabase along with layer files that will render the data with the symbology that was assigned to it in the reconstruction.
This function exports an entire reconstruction data frame to ArcGlobe, assuming that ArcGlobe is installed. Once the data is exported, ArcGlobe will open and show the data.
Note: For the best results, make the following changes to your ArcGlobe application before using the Export to ArcGlobe tool:
This tool refreshes the cached data for all the layers in the present day map (the top data frame) by copying all the data layers to the cache and then intersecting (“cookie cutting”) the copied data with the plate model polygon layer.
When you edit layers in the present day map, the edits will not be automatically updated in the cached data; therefore, it is important to refresh the cache after making edits to make sure that the cache is up-to-date, otherwise the edits will not appear in your reconstructions. Normally, PaleoGIS manages the cache automatically, but in the case of attribute and feature edits it does not.
This tool clears all temporary data out of the scratch directory so that the directory does not grow too large. It will also delete any reconstructed data frames in your current MXD. Therefore is important to use the Save Reconstruction tool to save any reconstructed data frames in your map that you wish to preserve before emptying the scratch directory.
Note: this is a “blanket” delete – EVERYTHING in the scratch directory will be deleted, even non-PaleoGIS-related files. If there are any locked files, they will be left untouched until the next time this command is run.
This tool validates all the layers in a data frame to make sure they are compatible with PaleoGIS by checking that the data is in a PaleoGIS supported format and that they do not contain malformed geometries.
Refresh Cache for Single Layer: Refreshes the cached data for a single layer. When a layer is edited, the edits will not be automatically updated in the cached data; therefore, it is important to refresh that data in the cache to make sure the cache is up-to-date.
Un-Reconstruct Tool: Allows the user to add point, line, or polygon data layers to a reconstructed map and then do a “reverse” reconstruction on the data, moving the features to their present-day coordinates.
Validate Layer Tool: Validates a single layer to make sure it is compatible with PaleoGIS by checking that the data is in a PaleoGIS supported format and that it does not contain malformed geometries.
Repair Layer Tool: This tool will attempt to fix any geometry errors (i.e. null geometry, crossover polygons, etc.) so the layer will work within PaleoGIS.
Detailed information for using each tool is given below.
Refreshes the cached data for a single layer. When a layer is edited, the edits will not be automatically updated in the cached data; therefore, it is important to refresh that data in the cache to make sure the cache is up-to-date, otherwise the edits will not appear in your reconstructions. Normally, PaleoGIS manages the cache automatically, but in the case of attribute and feature edits it does not.
Allows the user to add point, line, polygon and raster data layers to a reconstructed map and then do a “reverse” reconstruction on the data, moving the features to their present day coordinates.
Note: It is also possible to add features directly to a reconstructed layer in the reconstructed map, and then un-reconstructed the edited layer. However, since the reconstructed layer will already contain plate code, appearance, disappearance columns that were added during the original reconstruction, you must manually add these attribute values for the newly added features in order for them to to properly un-reconstruct.
Example:
The figure below shows 3 layers that have been added to a reconstruction – a point layer with 3 points, a line layer with 2 lines, and a polygon layer with 1 polygon.
The present day un-reconstruction for the 3 layers shown above looks like this:
Validates a single layer to make sure it is compatible with PaleoGIS by checking that the data is in a PaleoGIS supported format and that it does not contain malformed geometries.
This tool will attempt to fix any geometry errors (i.e. null geometry, crossover polygons, etc.) in a single layer so that the layer will work within PaleoGIS.
Note that the Repair Layer tool will change your data when making the repairs, so you should first make a backup copy of the data before running this tool.
Certain plate models will now include pre-reconstructed data layers call “time slices” that can add valuable information to your reconstructions or improve reconstruction speed. The Time Slice Viewer automatically adds these time slices to reconstructions if they are available for the reconstruction age. The time slices may contain supplemental data or they can be pre-reconstructed plate model display layers that were included to improve processing speed by eliminating the need to reconstruct all of the model’s display layers.
To enable Time Slice Viewer functionality, check the Enable time slice layers option in the Advanced Options tab in the Configuration window.
Note that if the currently loaded plate model doesn’t contain time slices, then selecting this option will have no effect on PaleoGIS operation. If the model contains time slices, the Time slice path on the Advanced Options tab will be the path to the directory where the time slice layers are located. However, it is possible for this path to be empty even if the model contains time slices.
When the Time Slice Viewer is enabled, ages that have corresponding time slices in the model will be bolded in the Age dropdown menu on the PaleoGIS: Basic Functions toolbar:
In the example above, reconstructions to the Zanclean, Lutetian, or Hauterivian ages will cause time slice layers to be automatically added to the reconstruction map. The time slices will be added to the reconstructions if any of these ages are selected from the dropdown menu or if a numeric age that corresponds to one of these geologic ages is entered in the Age box.
When creating animations with a model that contains time slices, by default the time slices will not be included in the animation. However, if you would like for them to be included, check the Include time slice layers in animations option on the Animation window. Note that this option will not be available unless the Enable time slice layers option is checked in the Configuration window.
Time Slice Viewer functionality is only available when using the default timescale for the currently loaded plate model. If you choose to convert to an alternate timescale on the Basic Options tab in the Configuration window, the Time Slice Viewer functionality will be turned off even if the Enable time slice layers option is checked.
For PaleoGIS licensing to operate correctly, PaleoGIS must be able to contact the The Rothwell Group’s license server via the internet. If your company is using a proxy server, you will need to configure PaleoGIS to insure that it can access the internet through the proxy server firewall.
In the Applications Settings tab in the Configuration window, change the value for the PROXY_SERVER_SETTINGS_SHOW setting to TRUE, then click the Save Updates button at the bottom of the table.
Go to the Misc. Settings tab in the Configuration window. A section titled Proxy Server Information will now be present at the bottom of the page (see image below). Contact your IT person for the information required to fill in the spaces in this area. Note that, if necessary, the Username and Password spaces can be left empty. Once you have filled in the appropriate information, click the Save Proxy Server Settings button. You are now ready to use PaleoGIS.
Below is a table of all the PaleoGIS application settings in the “T_PaleoGIS_Settings” table in the PaleoGIS configuration database (PaleoGIS_Settings.mdb). This table can be accessed via the Application Settings tab in the Configuration window or it can be accessed directly in PaleoGIS_Settings.mdb using Microsoft Access or ArcMap. The path to PaleoGIS_Settings.mdb is shown in the Configuration Database Location section in the Basic Options tab in the Configuration window.
Setting | Required | Example | Default | Function |
ADD_UNIQUE_ID | No | TRUE | FALSE | When value = TRUE, adds a unique numeric ID field called “PaleoUniqueId” to the attribute tables of all vector layers when they are copied to the cache. This field is then persisted to the reconstructed and animated layers. This is useful if you want to trace the lineage of a reconstructed feature back to the present day feature. This setting corresponds to the “Add unique ID to cache” option in the Configuration window “Advanced Settings” tab. |
ATB_AFTER_FC_RECON | No | ToolboxName|ToolName | “” | If this value is set to valid “Toolbox Name|Tool Name” pair, the PaleoGIS will run that Toolbox tool after each layer in the TOC is reconstructed. That tool can be a out-of-the-box ESRI tool, or a user-created tool. By default, no tool is run. |
ATB_AFTER_RECONSTRUCTION | No | ToolboxName|ToolName | “” | If this value is set to valid “Toolbox Name|Tool Name” pair, the PaleoGIS will run that Toolbox tool after a reconstruction is completed. That tool can be a out-of-the-box ESRI tool, or a user-created tool. By default, no tool is run. |
ATB_APP_STARTUP | No | ToolboxName|ToolName | “” | If this value is set to valid “Toolbox Name|Tool Name” pair, the PaleoGIS will run that Toolbox tool at PaleoGIS extension startup time. That tool can be a out-of-the-box ESRI tool, or a user-created tool. By default, no tool is run. |
ATB_BEFORE_FC_RECON | No | ToolboxName|ToolName | “” | If this value is set to valid “Toolbox Name|Tool Name” pair, the PaleoGIS will run that Toolbox tool before each layer in the TOC is reconstructed. That tool can be a out-of-the-box ESRI tool, or a user-created tool. By default, no tool is run. |
ATB_BEFORE_RECONSTRUCTION | No | ToolboxName|ToolName | “” | If this value is set to valid “Toolbox Name|Tool Name” pair, the PaleoGIS will run that Toolbox tool before a reconstruction is completed. That tool can be a out-of-the-box ESRI tool, or a user-created tool. By default, no tool is run. |
ATB_COOKIE_CUTTER | Yes | Analysis Tools|Intersect | Analysis Tools|Intersect | This value must be set to a valid “Toolbox Name|Tool Name” pair intersecting the Display layers with a “cookie cutter” layer. This is an essential part of performing reconstructions. |
ATB_DELETE | Yes | Data Management Tools|Delete | Data Management Tools|Delete | When PaleoGIS needs to delete a feature class, it calls this toolbox tool. Users can change to a different tool if needed, but this is not advisable. |
ATB_DISSOLVE | Yes | Data Management Tools|Dissolve | Data Management Tools|Dissolve | When PaleoGIS needs to do a dissolve on a feature class, it calls this toolbox tool. Users can change to a different tool if needed, but this is not advisable. |
ATB_FC_COPY | Yes | Conversion Tools|FeatureClassToFeatureClass | Conversion Tools|FeatureClassToFeatureClass | When PaleoGIS needs to do a copy on a feature class, it calls this toolbox tool. Users can change to a different tool if needed, but this is not advisable. This method of copying is obsolete but still moderately in use. |
ATB_GROUP_FC_COPY | No | Conversion Tools|FeatureClassToGeodatabase | Conversion Tools|FeatureClassToGeodatabase | This method of copying is obsolete in PaleoGIS, but should be left in the table for backwards compatibility. |
ATB_GROUP_RASTER_COPY | No | Conversion Tools|RasterToGeodatabase | Conversion Tools|RasterToGeodatabase | This method of copying is obsolete in PaleoGIS, but should be left in the table for backwards compatibility. |
ATB_MOSAIC | Yes | Data Management Tools|Mosaic | Data Management Tools|Mosaic | This method is used for one step in raster reconstruction. Users can change to a different tool if needed, but this is not advisable. |
ATB_RASTER_COPY | Yes | Data Management Tools|Resample | Data Management Tools|Resample | This method is used for one step in raster reconstruction. Users can change to a different tool if needed, but this is not advisable. |
ATB_RASTER_WARP | Yes | Data Management Tools|Warp | Data Management Tools|Warp | This method is used for one step in raster reconstruction. Users can change to a different tool if needed, but this is not advisable. |
ATB_RENAME | Yes | Data Management Tools|Rename | Data Management Tools|Rename | When PaleoGIS needs to rename a feature class, it calls this toolbox tool. Users can change to a different tool if needed, but this is not advisable. |
ATB_REPAIR_GEOMETRY | Yes | Data Management Tools|RepairGeometry | Data Management Tools|RepairGeometry | When PaleoGIS needs to repair the geometry of a vector feature class, it calls this toolbox tool after assigning plate codes. Users can change to a different tool if needed, but this is not advisable. |
ATB_SHOW_TOOLBOX_WINDOW | Yes | FALSE | Required for correctly displaying all ArcToolbox Tools that are run. Do not change. | |
ATB_SHOWPROGRESS | Yes | TRUE | Required for correctly displaying all ArcToolbox Tools that are run. Do not change. | |
ATB_VALIDATE | Yes | FALSE | Required for correctly displaying all ArcToolbox Tools that are run. Do not change. | |
CACHE_PATH | Yes | C:\Temp\PaleoGIS\cache.gdb | %TEMP%\cache.gdb | Sets the path to the PaleoGIS data cache. This setting sets the value for the Cache Path in the Misc. Settings tab in the Configuration window. This value can also be set and saved using the Change Cache Path button in the “Misc. Settings” tab. |
CACHE_ROTATION_TABLES | No | TRUE | FALSE | When value = TRUE, makes a copy of the plate model rotation tables in the local cache so that PaleoGIS will be able to work from the cached copy during reconstructions. This option is useful for increasing performance when the plate model is stored in a remote network location instead of on the local machine. |
CRS_IGNORE_AGES | No | TRUE | FALSE | When value = TRUE, makes it such that any reconstructions and animations will ignore the “appearance” and “disappearance” fields in the plate model and any user data layers. This means that regardless of the reconstruction age, all plate model features and all user data features that intersect a plate polygon in the plate model will be reconstructed and displayed in a reconstruction or animation. This setting corresponds to the “Ignore assigned ages” option in the Configuration window “Advanced Settings” tab. |
CRS_IGNORE_CHILDREN | No | TRUE | FALSE | When value = TRUE, removes the linkage between a parent plate and its children when using the Drag and Drop and the Spin and Drop tools on the Plate Model Tools toolbar. This option does not affect reconstructions and animations. This setting corresponds to the “Ignore children” option in the Configuration window “Advanced Settings” tab. |
DEFORMATION_ENABLED | No | TRUE | FALSE | Determines if deformation is enabled. This setting corresponds to the “Enable deformation” option in the Configuration window “Advanced Settings” tab. |
EDIT_SKIP_PLATE_LIST | No | FALSE | TRUE | When performing plate model pole-of-rotation edits using tools from the PaleoGIS: Plate Model Tools toolbar, if this option is set to TRUE, the user must save the edits (using the Pole Saver tool) for a given plate before the poles for another plate can be edited. If this option is set to FALSE, multiple plates can be edited before saving, and then when the Pole Saver tool is clicked, a list of modified poles will be displayed, and each edited pole can be saved at that time. |
EXCEPTION_CONTACTINFO | Yes | The Rothwell Group, L.P. at PaleoGIS@RothwellGroup.com | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_DEFAULTDOMAIN | Yes | paleogis.com | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_DISPLAYDIALOG | Yes | TRUE | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_EMAILSCREENSHOT | Yes | FALSE | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_EMAILTO | Yes | paleogis@rothwellgroup.com | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_IGNOREDEBUG | Yes | FALSE | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_KILLAPPONEXCEPTION | Yes | TRUE | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_LOGTOEVENTLOG | Yes | FALSE | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_LOGTOFILE | Yes | TRUE | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_SENDEMAIL | Yes | FALSE | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_SMTPSERVER | Yes | NONE | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
EXCEPTION_TAKESCREENSHOT | Yes | TRUE | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
HELP_PATH | Yes | http://www.paleogis.com/dotnetnuke/UsersManual/tabid/56/Default.aspx | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff | |
HELP_PATH_LOCAL | Yes | PaleoGIS_User_Manual.pdf | PaleoGIS_User_Manual.pdf | Name of the local copy of the User’s Manual installed with PaleoGIS in the PaleoGIS installation folder, usually at C:\Program Files (x86)\Rothwell\PaleoGIS. |
IGNORE_REPAIR_FEATURES | No | TRUE | FALSE | When value = TRUE, can improve reconstruction performance by skipping the repair of any invalid features that might be created as a result of the intersection process between the plate model "cookie cutter" layer and user data layers. Determines if timeslice layers are enabled. This setting corresponds to the “Skip repairing features” option in the Configuration window “Advanced Settings” tab. |
INCLUDE_GEOLOGIC_AGE_IN_MAP_LABEL | No | FALSE | TRUE | Determines if the geologic age will be included in the reconstruction map label. This setting corresponds to the “Geologic age” option in the Configuration window “Label Options” tab. |
INCLUDE_NUMERIC_AGE_IN_MAP_LABEL | No | FALSE | TRUE | Determines if the geologic age will be included in the reconstruction map label. This setting corresponds to the “Numeric age” option in the Configuration window “Label Options” tab. |
INCLUDE_PLATEMODEL_IN_MAP_LABEL | No | FALSE | TRUE | Determines if the plate model name will be included in the reconstruction map label. This setting corresponds to the “Plate model name” option in the Configuration window “Label Options” tab. |
INCLUDE_RELATIVETO_IN_MAP_LABEL | No | FALSE | TRUE | Determines if the fixed plate ID will be included in the reconstruction map label. This setting corresponds to the “[Relative to...]...” option in the Configuration window “Label Options” tab. |
INCLUDE_TIMESCALE_IN_MAP_LABEL | No | TRUE | FALSE | Determines if the timescale name will be included in the reconstruction map label. This setting corresponds to the “Timescale name” option in the Configuration window “Label Options” tab. |
LABEL_POSITION | No | TOP, RIGHT | BOTTOM, CENTER | Sets the position of the reconstruction map label within the map. Allowed values are: “BOTTOM, CENTER”, “BOTTOM, RIGHT”, “BOTTOM, LEFT”, "CENTER, RIGHT", "CENTER, LEFT", "TOP, CENTER", "TOP, RIGHT", and "TOP, LEFT". This setting corresponds to the “Label Position” option in the Configuration window “Label Options” tab. |
LAST_USED_MODEL | Yes | Demo UTIG Plates Model | Demo Scotese Model | Holds the name of the last model used so it can be automatically loaded it in the next PaleoGIS session. |
LAST_USED_REFERENCE_FRAME | Yes | 0 | 0 | Holds the plate code for the last used reference frame. |
LAST_USED_TIMESCALE | Yes | DNAG | DNAG 1999 | Holds the name of the last used timescale. |
LAST_USED_TIMESCALE_SORT | No | Alpha | Age | Holds the name of the last used timescale sort method - either “Alpha” or “Age”. This setting corresponds to the “Timescale Age Sorting” option in the Configuration window “Basic Options” tab. |
LEFT_ALIGN_LABEL | No | TRUE | FALSE | Determines if the text in the reconstruction map label is left justified (value = TRUE) or center justified (value = FALSE). This setting corresponds to the “Left align text” option in the Configuration window “Label Options” tab. |
LOG_LEVEL | Yes | INFO, ERROR, or WARN | ERROR | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff. |
LOGFILE_PATH | Yes | C:\Temp\PaleoGIS\PaleoGIS_Log.txt | %USERPROFILE%\PaleoGIS_Log.txt | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff. |
MAKE_LABEL_EDITABLE | No | TRUE | TRUE | Allows the user to move or edit the reconstruction map label. |
PG_ANALYSIS_1 PG_ANALYSIS_2 PG_ANALYSIS_3 PG_ANALYSIS_X... | Yes | Azimuth & Rate vs. Time|AzimuthAndRateExt.DLL#AzimuthAndRateExt.AzimuthAndRateExt | “” | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff. |
PROXY_SERVER_BYPASSEXPECT100 | No | TRUE | TRUE | This setting is required to be TRUE by most proxy servers for proper connection to the PaleoGIS license server. For more information contact your IT department. This setting corresponds to the “Bypass Expect100Continue header” option in the Configuration window “Misc. Options” tab. |
PROXY_SERVER_SETTINGS | No | N/A | N/A | This setting will only exist if proxy server settings have been saved via the “Proxy Server Information” form in the Configuration window “Misc. Settings” tab. Do not manually change the value of this setting in the “Applications Settings” table or directly in PaleoGIS_Settings.mdb. |
PROXY_SERVER_SETTINGS_DISABLED | No | TRUE | FALSE | When value = TRUE, causes PaleoGIS to ignore the proxy information in the “Proxy Server Information” form in the Configuration window “Misc. Settings” tab. This setting corresponds to the “Disable proxy server settings” option in the same tab. |
PROXY_SERVER_SETTINGS_SHOW | No | TRUE | FALSE | When value = TRUE, makes the “Proxy Server Information” form visible in the Configuration window “Misc. Settings” tab. |
RASTER_PIXELPERMINUTE | Yes | 20000 | 0 | The processing rate for the last raster reconstruction. Used for estimating the length of the next raster reconstruction. |
RASTER_PLATECOUNT | Yes | 130 | 0 | The number of plates overlapping the last raster reconstruction. Used for estimating the length of the next raster reconstruction. |
RASTER_POSTPROCPIXELPERMINUTE | Yes | 10000 | 0 | The processing rate for the last raster reconstruction that had the post processing option enabled. Used for estimating the length of the next raster reconstruction. |
SCRATCH_DIRECTORY | Yes | C:\Temp\PaleoGIS\ | %TEMP%\ | Sets the output directory for all PaleoGIS output files. This setting sets the value for the Scratch Path in the Misc. Settings tab in the Configuration window. This value can also be set and saved using the Change Scratch Path button in the “Misc. Settings” tab. |
TIMESLICE_ENABLED | Yes | TRUE | FALSE | Determines if timeslice layers are enabled. This setting corresponds to the “Enable time slice layers” option in the Configuration window “Advanced Settings” tab. |
VERSION | No | 4.3 | Value depends on the current version. | Set by Rothwell, do not change unless directed by support staff |
PaleoGIS can be instructed to perform certain specialized functions on a specific layer based on certain keywords in that layer’s ArcGIS metadata. This capability is primarily intended to be used by plate modelers to add custom functionality their plate models. The available metadata keywords and their functions are described in the table below. To add either of these capabilities to a layer, the keyword must be included in the the “Purpose” field in the layer’s metadata. There can be any other text in the “Purpose” field, so this does not preclude using the “Purpose” field as it was intended, but the PaleoGIS keyword must be on a line by itself within the “Purpose” field.
Due to metadata changes made by ESRI starting in ArcMap 10.0, in order to access the metadata “Purpose” field, you must download and install the FGDC Metadata Editor add-in in ArcCatalog. From this add-in you can open a layer’s FGDC compliant metadata which contains the “Purpose” field. Entering the PaleoGIS keywords using ESRI’s standard metadata interface will NOT write the keywords to the correct location in the metadata, and therefore the keywords will not be recognized by PaleoGIS. Conversely, keywords entered into the “Purpose” field using the FGDC Metadata Editor will not be visible in via the standard metadata interface even though they will still be available for use by PaleoGIS.
Keyword | Action |
CACHE_IGNORE_DEF_QUERY | This keyword causes PaleoGIS to copy the ENTIRE dataset to the cache, even if only a subset of the data is visible in the present day map due to a definition query. Normal PaleoGIS functionality based on appearance and disappearance ages will then act on the data in the cache causing the appropriate data to be reconstructed for specific ages and appear in the reconstruction results. This feature is useful when the data set contains data for various ages, but it is desirable to only display the present day data on the present day map. In order for this functionality to work correctly, the dataset must contain Appearance and Disappearance columns that are populated to define the existence of the dataset features based on age. |
TIME_DEPENDENT_COPY_TABLE_SQL= SQL query | Putting this keyword along with an SQL query in a joined table allows PaleoGIS to support “time-dependent joins”. PaleoGIS normally preserves feature class-to-table joins during reconstructions, which works well with one-to-one joins, but doesn’t work for one-to-many joins. A common need for one-to-many joins is to represent the evolution of well stratigraphy over time: a vertical well is represented by a single point on the map, but this point can be joined to a stratigraphic database that details the age dependent composition of the well. By using the TIME_DEPENDENT_COPY_TABLE_SQL setting with an appropriate SQL query, PaleoGIS will perform a one-to-many join during reconstructions by joining the well point with the row from the stratigraphic database that corresponds to the reconstruction age. In order for this keyword to work, the SQL must contain a replaceable parameter that will customize the SQL query on the fly. The available replaceable parameters are: %AGE%: Age of reconstruction %PM%: Plate Model name %RF%: Reference Frame plate number Example: TIME_DEPENDENT_COPY_TABLE_SQL= StratAge = %AGE% For a reconstruction age of 100.5Ma this example will cause PaleoGIS to filter a joined table using the query “StratAge = 100.5” These SQL queries can get as complicated as needed in order to produce the required result - they just need to be valid SQL (once the replaceable keyword substitutions have been made). |
The Rothwell Group, L. P. provides PaleoGIS product support for all users. For any questions concerning PaleoGIS, please contact us:
The ArcMap Table of Contents is the column of layers listed on the left side of the ArcMap main window.
In the above example, there are two data frames with three layers each. “EarthByte_demo” is active, as indicated by the heading in bold.
In order for the PaleoGIS to work, one or more layers will need to be visible within the data frame. To change the visibility of a layer either check (visible) or uncheck (not visible) the check box to the left of the layer name in the Table of Contents.
Note: The default Unit of Measure for all layers in an ArcMap project is set to Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds.
To select a feature in a layer, click on the Select Features tool in the ArcMap toolbar, then click on the feature to be selected. By default, the selected feature will be highlighted in light blue.
OR
Note: To de-select the features, from the ArcMap toolbar click Selection > Clear Selected Features.
Note: There are various other ways of selecting features in ArcMap, including selecting a feature by using shapes, finds, records, or a query. For more information, go to the ArcMap help topic Selecting Features in a Layer.
The PaleoGIS tools will require that only ONE feature is selected. If multiple polygons are stacked in a layer, they will ALL be selected with the Select Features tool. When this happens, a warning that more than one feature is selected will display. In this case, use the attribute table to select the one desired feature.
Note: The selected features will be highlighted.
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